Floating roof and sealing means therefor



Patented Oct. 24,*1933 t GeorgeT.HortomChicago, Ill., assignor to Chi- ".cago Bridge & Iron Company, Chicago, Ill., a.

corporation of Illinois origiarappucation 'January 14, '1931, serial No.

V508,744. Divided and this 193,2.y Serial No. 614,998

application June `2,*

vafname.. (o1. :22o- 26) This invention relatesv to improvements in g floating roofs and sealing means therefor and, more especially, floating roofs adapted for use in liquid storage tanks. Y My inventionis lparticularly applicable foruse in 'connection with a floating roof in a cylindrical tank, and provides means for sealing the space between the periphery of the roof andthe Wall of the tank.

Among the features of my invention is the provision of simple and effective means for seal ing the space referred to. This is accomplished without the use ofv flexible fabrics, and the like, which are relatively short-lived.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of a sealing means that also acts as an insulating means.

My improved sealing means is formed of independent members which are easily removable for inspection, replacement, repair, and the like. Y

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 508,744Q1ed January 14, 1931. Y l

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fullyv as I proceed with my specification.

In those forms of devices embodying the features of my invention shown in the accompanying drawingn v Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View;r Fig. 2 is a top plan View; and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form.

As shown in the drawing, 10 may indicate a. cylindrical tank with a bottom 11 containing theA liquid 12. Numeral 13 indicates, in general, a floating roof such as is frequently used in oil storage tanks to lessen losses by evaporation. As here shown, this roof includesthe annular pontoon 14 with the central sheet portionl 15. The periphery of the floating roof is vertical,v as indicated by 16.

The principal feature of this invention is the provision of means for sealing the space between the periphery of the roof and the wall of the contact.

tank. In general, it may be stated that this sealing means includes an outer ring of radially movable members with beveled inner surfaces and ,an inner ring with an outer co-operating beveled surface, the buoyancy of one,l of the rings and the weight of the other urging the beveled vsurfaces of the twok ringsinto sliding This causes relative sliding movement of the two rings with respect to each other, causing the outerring to tend to move outwardly and the inner ring to tend to move inwardly.

This causes the two rings yto ll the space between the periphery 'of the roof and the wall of the tank. l l

The rings may take various forms. In both forms 'of the device, I have indicated, in generaL the outerring by A and the inner ring, by B.' In Fig. l1, the inner ring is buoyant.' In Fig. 3, the outer ring is buoyant. Each ring'is composed of a plurality of box-like members radially movable with respect to each other. The separate box-like members in the outer ring are indicated by Al and the separate box-like members in the inner ring are indicated by B.

In the form shown in Fig. l, the members A forming the outer ring are flat on top and have their inner surfaces beveled, the bevel slanting downwardly and outwardly. The outer ring of the device shown in Fig. 3 is very similar, except that the members of the outer ring are turned over. That is. the outer ring A in the device of Fig. 3 is also made up of separate radially movable box-like members having their under surfaces flat and provided with beveled inner surfaces slanting outwardly and upwardly. There are slight spaces 17 left between the members A inV order to permit the requisite amountof circumferential variation in the ring `A caused by radial movement of the kmembers of the forms of Figs. 1 and 3, the inner ring BA has its outer surface provided with a co-operatingV bevel in sliding contact with the beveled inner surface of the outer ring A. In each of the devices shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the co-operating beveled surfaces of the two rings are indicated by 19. These surfaces are in sliding contact and the buoyancy of one ring and the Weight of the other urges them together.

vThis causes a tendency for the rings to separate radially. That is, the outer ring will be urged outwardly and the inner ring inwardly (with respect to each other) to cause said rings to keep the space between the periphery of the floating roof and the wall of the tank lled.

To obtain the desired buoyancy, I have here shown the inner ring in the device of Fig. 1 and the outer ring in the device of Fig. 3 made hollow and composed of separate pontoons so that they will float on the liquid and have sufficient buoyancy to cause them to be urged against the other rings Ato cause the sliding contact referred to. I have also chosen to make the outer ring in the device of Fig. 1 and the inner ring of the device of Fig. 3 hollow or box-like in construction, thus ycausing said rings to operate more effectually as' insulating media. It will be seen, therefore, that in both forms of the device, the two rings afford an insulating means for the space between the periphery of the roof and the wall of the tanlLMFor example, the liquid, such as oil, stored in the tank, is insulated from the heat of the sun by these rings near the wall ofv the tank.v

By the provision of two rings, sticking or jamming of the sealing means is prevented or lessened. The radial spaces 17 andk 18 between the members should be suicient to'allow them to adjust themselves to the varying tank diame-V ters and unevennesses in the periphery of `the tank or roof. The top and bottom edges of the members A are tapered or curved to permit them'to'p'ass over rivet heads and vother uneven'- nesses, projections or obstructions that there may be on the inner wall of the tank.

While I have shown and described certain T embodiments of my invention, it is tobe understoodthat it is capable of many modifications.

Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent Yin my invention a'sf'broadly as permissible in view of one of said rings being made buoyant and adapt-l 'ed to float on liquid in the tank, the buoyancy of osaid. ring and the weight of the other ring urging the beveled surfaces of the two rings into sliding Contact, the inner surface of the inner ring and the outer peripheral surface ofthe:

oatng roof being provided withr substantially` vertical relatively movable co-operating surfacest 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1', in which the sealing means embody a 'hollow box-like,

structure. e ,f ,e

r(GEORGE T. HOR'ION.

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